On Oct. 11 of last year, we shared a few stories of the 13 students whose cars had been broken into while parked in the H-2 lot just west of the Johnson Complex. The vehicles were broken into overnight, with side windows smashed in and car stereos, CDs and players all missing.
That week, those students had added challenges to their schedule: getting their belongings replaced, getting their cars fixed and the difficult task of putting their mind at ease.
It is unfortunate and disturbing to report that this incident has happened again.
Although suspects are in custody, there has still been a rash of over 30 vehicle break-ins and thefts over the past week on campus. To the University Police Department's credit, the two men in custody were caught in the act of breaking into a vehicle, but their relation, if any, to the other break-ins is unknown at this point. Regardless, the fact that the other incidents have occurred is anything by settling to BSU's students, staff and faculty who use those lots on a daily basis.
As mentioned in the Oct. 11 editorial, Benny and Frogbaby continue to have cameras pointed at them 24-7. Wal-Marts, Meijers and numerous other public venues also have cameras and security staffs working, often time, around the clock.
Why can't our school have the same sort of security for its students, faculty and staff?
Even if cameras are not in the budget, surely there must be something that can be adjusted or changed to help better outfit UPD with effective means of securing our parking lots. This issue no longer deals only with tangible goods, but the safety and wellbeing of human beings, as well.
If thieves are getting away with these sorts of acts in our parking lots, especially in a lot as distant as the stadium, it really leads us to wonder what else has, or could take place.
Muggings, rapes and other similar crimes are all possible in the amount of time it's taken for these vehicle thefts to happen. If officials are not actively patrolling these lots, Ball State could end up with larger problems than a missing CD collection.
In that Oct. 11 article, Rhonda Clark, first sergeant of UPD, said, "The lots are already patrolled 24-7, but we're going to increase patrol in the parking lots and see if that makes a difference."
If this latest round of crime is any indicator, UPD needs to continue to reevaluate its patrolling methods.
In regards to safety, there is still a lot that could be done. Lighting in the stadium lots is fairly adequate, but still dim when compared to other on-campus lots. Additionally, the amount of emergency call boxes within parking lots could be greatly increased. As it stands right now, a victim in the stadium overflow lot (by the baseball stadium) would have to use a cell phone or cross Tillotson Aveunue to access the nearest call box, located in the campus shuttle stop in the main stadium lot. Not what one would call "readily accessible" in an emergency.
Ball State University needs to work with its students and UPD to better protect those who call the institution work or home. It is important for this to take place now before any more crimes can easily take place. If the university waits too long, it may find itself commenting on a situation it could have otherwise avoided.
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